Thunderbird Club

[Larry V]

I wasn't poking fun anyone's age Just lamenting I never got to see Zepplin, sucky or not.

I meant to use this emoji: not the whistling one... that'll teach me to put my damn glasses on

I saw Page & Plant three times in the mid-90's... reluctantly. It broke my heart that they wouldn't invite JPJ and Jason and do a proper LZ 2.0 Tour for those of us too young to see LZ 1.0.

 

[Jonithen]

Hi all! Been a while. I've just recently returned to Bird ownership after sorting out some financial issues at home, and purchased a wonderful specimen from a fellow TBer.

Question that I'm sure has been answered numerous times: Where can I find a black pickguard for a Gibby Bird that *also* has the Bird emblem on it? Most legit custom pickguard places I've asked tell me that it's a copyright issue, so now I'm just waiting around for one to pop up on Reverb and other places. I wish I could simply pull the guard off of one of those Epi birds with the black guard, but I'm guessing it won't fit properly. Any advice?

I am trying my luck with an epi black guard. Kind of want the red and black thing. I will let you know in a couple weeks if it works.

 

[TBird1958]

While it is the general consensus that LZ was not a great live band, they did have some great live performances and thankfully there were enough bootleggers out there to capture them... The stuff from MSG for the Song Remains the Same is awesome as were performances from the LA Forum.

I know everyone's tastes vary but come on, they are rock Gods and living legends.

I can assure you they (LZ) were quite mortal when I saw them, I saw Blue Oyster Cult 3 times at Seattle's Paramont Theater and just to cite them, there was no comparing the two bands live, B.O.C. blew the house down, LZ was closer to simply falling down. Again though, I don't slag them as a studio band or as musicians, even Page, who as my friend Mr Horung says is sloppy, he is brilliantly so.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Dead Head here.
I'm not aware of Lesh ever playing a TBird on stage or for any recorded song although I think he did play a Gibson EB-0 very early in his career with the Dead. He is mostly known for his long history with Alembic and the custom Quadraphonic wall of sound they created for his stage performances with the Dead (independent tone shaping and output for each string on the bass, routed to high power dedicated channel amps powering a massive array of something like 32 speaker cabinets).

This is probably one of my favorite Lesh live recordings. He's using a much more modest sound system setup but still very interesting rack components. The bass is an Alembic as well.

Nice trippy laid back wandering signature Dead Head sound.

Here's a link to a very interesting short read on how his music and gear evolved...
Phil Lesh Tone & Sound – Bass Guitar Gear Guide - Jam Buzz
Enjoy.

Yeah, Phil's gear journey has been interesting, if Alembic-intensive from the instrument side. One of our board members spent time designing sound systems at one point and was involved with the Wall of Sound. That was a very interesting presentation.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Dead Head here.
...

And yes, that's brilliant. Not too many people could pull off the Sweet Jane intro like that!

 

[Engle]

Impedance match was the biggest reason I got an fDeck in the first place. It does work that way as well as being a HPF. Going wireless also solved the impedance match, although it wasn't a given that it would work that way.

It doesn’t actually need to match, but the input impedance of the thing you’re plugging into needs to be high enough or higher.

Most newer amps work fine. I can plug my K&K pickup directly into my MB200, but having the HPF and volume controls at the bass makes life a lot easier. If I’m bowing on a gig, I tape the Fdeck onto the outside of the quiver.

I find attaching anything to the tailpiece causes rattling.

All this upright bass talk reminds me I have a gig with it next week and I need to practice for that.

 

[Band Mom]

Those are some very cool upgrades.

Honestly, the primary reason I bought it was because it completed my birth year collection for my family and that it came close to the color I'm collecting (ebony body with a black pg). I already had basses representing my wife and my own birth years, and this new Bird is my son's birth year.

My hope is to keep these as some sort of heirloom to my son after I'm gone, which sounds morbid, but is something that I like to think would produce happy memories for him since bass playing is such a large part of my leisure time.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

I saw them 7/17/73...……..Still the worst concert I've ever attended, and that includes walking out on RATT. They were beyond incoherent, sloppy and stupidly boring live.
As a studio band I like some of their music, most of it was grossly overplayed on Seattle's FM radio so I'm pretty burned out on them. For me the studio version of "When the Levee Breaks" is the band's high point.

love the original..

 

[JJR58]

Honestly, the primary reason I bought it was because it completed my birth year collection for my family and that it came close to the color I'm collecting (ebony body with a black pg). I already had basses representing my wife and my own birth years, and this new Bird is my son's birth year.

My hope is to keep these as some sort of heirloom to my son after I'm gone, which sounds morbid, but is something that I like to think would produce happy memories for him since bass playing is such a large part of my leisure time.

That's awesome!!! , and not morbid at all. Totally understand.

 

[Kriegs]

Honestly, the primary reason I bought it was because it completed my birth year collection for my family and that it came close to the color I'm collecting (ebony body with a black pg). I already had basses representing my wife and my own birth years, and this new Bird is my son's birth year.

My hope is to keep these as some sort of heirloom to my son after I'm gone, which sounds morbid, but is something that I like to think would produce happy memories for him since bass playing is such a large part of my leisure time.

I wish I could own a birth year Thunderbird but they didn't make them in 1970

Maybe, one day, I'll luck into a 1970 Firebird though

 

[Gaolee]

I haven't taken pics yet, but I can lazily link to the listing

SOLD - 2013 Gibson Thunderbird, Custom Modified, RARE

Nicely done!

 

[MCF]

The Chromes on my Jazz are like that (I think it’s the E). When I look at it, I worry. But it’s been fine for at least 3 years.

I unintentionally cut an A string (Chromes) too short for one of my Precisions once and ended up with the dreaded break angle problem common to 7enders. I was able to get a single A to replace it. That set is now three years old and sounds great. I’m hoping to never change them on that bass again.

 

[Mike.C.]

Just arrive?
Nice...

Actually about to celebrate 1 year with this Bird. Last NBD for the foreseeable future!

"Get this thing outta there so I can have the box!"

No truer words, sir.

 

[MCF]

Dead Head here.
I'm not aware of Lesh ever playing a TBird on stage or for any recorded song although I think he did play a Gibson EB-0 very early in his career with the Dead. He is mostly known for his long history with Alembic and the custom Quadraphonic wall of sound they created for his stage performances with the Dead (independent tone shaping and output for each string on the bass, routed to high power dedicated channel amps powering a massive array of something like 32 speaker cabinets).

This is probably one of my favorite Lesh live recordings. He's using a much more modest sound system setup but still very interesting rack components. The bass is an Alembic as well.

Nice trippy laid back wandering signature Dead Head sound.

Here's a link to a very interesting short read on how his music and gear evolved...
Phil Lesh Tone & Sound – Bass Guitar Gear Guide - Jam Buzz
Enjoy.

Huh. Likes the Dead but not Neil. You’re difficult to understand sometimes my friend.

 

[JJR58]

I unintentionally cut an A string (Chromes) too short for one of my Precisions once and ended up with the dreaded break angle problem common to 7enders. I was able to get a single A to replace it. That set is now three years old and sounds great. I’m hoping to never change them on that bass again.

Chromes last a surprisingly long time. I had a set on a bass i no longer have. And if it weren't for the high tension, i'd be using them on one of my basses.

 

[Gaolee]

I was just over three years old then

I was 13, you whippersnapper!

 

[Gaolee]

I wasn't poking fun anyone's age Just lamenting I never got to see Zepplin, sucky or not.

I meant to use this emoji: not the whistling one... that'll teach me to put my damn glasses on

Speak up, sonny!

 

[MCF]

Actually about to celebrate 1 year with this Bird. Last NBD for the foreseeable future!

No truer words, sir.

There will be NBDs all ‘round after Epi announces the NR Vintage Pro at Summer NAMM. It. Will. Happen.

 

[JJR58]

Speak up, sonny!

What?! I can't hear you.

 

[TBird1958]

love the original..

In typical LZ fashion, borrowing from American Blues, not too big a surprise.